Percussion Cane Gun

Percussion cane guns are quite popular among collectors of 19th century firearms, curios, and oddities.  Many well-to-do gentlemen carried similar gun canes for personal protection from the 1850s through the early 1900s, and individuals associated with Theodore Roosevelt are known to have possessed cane guns. Most cane gun examples found follow the basic Remington design.

The Remington single-shot cane gun is unique in several respects, including its status as the first long arm produced by Remington. In addition, the Ilion arms makers were the only major U.S. firearms firm to produce such a gun.  Both percussion and metallic cartridge versions were made by Remington. J. F. Thomas, Remington's master mechanic, patented the device in 1858, and he received a patent extension in 1872.  Both patents shared the same number, and the patent applications were written without specification as to ignition type.  In fact, the same design could be used with either percussion or metallic cartridge, and this feature ensured Remington's exclusive rights to U.S. manufacture of cane guns.

The basic design was also reproduced by domestic and foreign manufacturers for many years after the Remington patents lapsed.